Nathan Earl Gairhan

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Nathan (Earl) Gairhan, 94, of Jonesboro peacefully departed this life on March 3, 2022.

Earl was born May 19, 1927, in Trumann to the late N.G. and Lorene Akins Gairhan.  He was a member of the Trumann High School graduating class of 1945.  He married Charlene Hurd also of Trumann on October 21, 1960.  Earl was a life-long member of First Baptist Church (Jonesboro) where he served as a Deacon and Sunday school teacher.

Earl joined the Navy in 1945 and served for fourteen months on a Navy destroyer.  He then went to college and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Arkansas.  At the university, he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity where he served as Vice-President.  Earl earned Graduate Banking degrees from Louisiana State University and the University of Oklahoma.  He served as a Vice-President at Mercantile Bank (now Regions Bank) for over 40 years.  Earl was also a life-long farmer and landowner.  He was a leader in the area in bringing the irrigation of crops to Northeast Arkansas.  In the community, Earl was a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Jonesboro Jaycees, a member of the Craighead County Fair Board, a Board Member of the Trumann Alumni Association, he served on board for the Cache River Drainage District, and he coached little league basketball for his boys.  Earl was an avid fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Arkansas State Red Wolves and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Earl enjoyed spending time with his family.  He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.  He was preceded in death by his parents, and three brothers; Willie, Herman, and Paul.  He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Charlene, of the home; three sons:  Nathan (Teresa) of Rogers; Charles (Sheila) of Germantown, TN; John (Caroline) of Little Rock; six grandchildren:  Julia Gairhan, Nate Gairhan, Katie Gairhan, J.P. Gairhan, James Gairhan, and Sally Gairhan; one brother, Wayne Gairhan of Trumann; and one sister, Marie DePriest of Malden, MO; and many nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers are David Gairhan, Scott Gairhan, Zach Gairhan, Michael Gairhan, Gary DePriest, Todd Williams, Dudley Bowdon, Tim  Cooper, Richard Alls, James Lowery, and Mike Mullally.

The family would like to thank the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House and the amazing third floor ICU and ICU step-down caregivers at St Bernard’s Hospital.  Memorials can be made to First Baptist Church on 701 S Main Street, Jonesboro Arkansas.

The family will have a private burial followed by a visitation held at Emerson Funeral Home Thursday March 10 ^th at 1 PM followed by a 2PM Memorial Service.